Ocampo seeks arrest warrant against Rwandese
rebel leader
By Hirondelle
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno-Ocampo, has requested an arrest warrant against Rwandese rebel leader, Sylvestre Mudacumura, for crimes against humanity and war crimes, a statement issued on Monday said.
Mudacumura is claimed to be the field commander of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) whose leaders are believed to have taken part in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
The ICC prosecutor requests for his arrest on five charges of crimes against humanity and nine counts of war crimes, in particular for murder, rape and torture, allegedly committed by the rebels between 20 January 2009 and 31 August 2010, in North and South Kivu Provinces.
"Together with Callixte Mbarushimana and with Ignace Murwanashyaka, currently on trial in Germany, Sylvestre Mudacumura is one of the main leaders of the FDLR, who launched a campaign of attacks against the civilian populations in the Kivus", the statement read.
In Callixte Mbarushimana's case, ICC judges found that there were not enough evidence against him. Prosecution has appealed.
According to the statement, Luis Moreno-Ocampo also seeks to expand charges against General Bosco Ntaganda, to include crimes against humanity and war crimes for murder and rape or sexual slavery, among others.
“These crimes were committed over a large geographical area within Ituri, DRC during the period of September 2002 to September 2003,” the prosecutor says in the statement. An arrest warrant was already issued by ICC for Ntaganda on claims of recruiting child soldiers.
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